I also use it quite a bit when we’re invited to a holiday party at  a friend’s house and I’m asked to bring a side dish. I just carry the entire crockpot over there, plug it in and everything will be piping hot and delicious when we’re ready to eat.

By the way, using the crockpot goes hand in hand with the planning ahead for big holiday meals that we talked about yesterday. Be sure to include your favorite slow cooker in those meals.

Here’s how I use my crockpots around the holidays:

Snacks and Appetizers

Dig through your stack of potluck recipes for the crockpot and I’m sure you’ll come up with some yummy snack and appetizer ideas. I like to serve warm / hot dips in a small crockpot. The “keep warm setting” keeps it at the perfect temperature.

Here’s a tasty Sausage Hamburger Cheese Dip for the crockpot. You can also add some meatballs or small sausages to your slow cooker and cover them with barbecue sauce.

Main Dishes

Believe it or not you can cook a turkey breast in the crockpot. Crumble up some aluminum foil and put it in the bottom of your slow cooker. Season the turkey breast and set it on top of the foil balls. Cook on low for about 10 to 12 hours depending on size.

If you prefer ham, here’s a great crockpot honey glazed ham recipe for you.

Side Dishes

You can simmer all sorts of yummy bean and vegetable side dishes in a crockpot. Last year I brought some corn on the cob to a holiday party. I boiled the corn on the stove most of the way, then buttered it and transferred it to the crockpot. Once we got to our friend’s house, I set the crockpot on keep warm and we had hot corn with dinner.

There are also plenty of macaroni and cheese or various casseroles that are always a big hit around the holidays and are simple to make in a crockpot. A family favorite of ours is crock pot scalloped potatoes.

Dessert

There are recipes for anything from apple crisp to sweet potato casserole (with marshmallows of course) that make perfect holiday desserts that can be cooked in the crockpot. Here’s another recipe for you.

Pumpkin Custard For The Crockpot

• 1 can pumpkin
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Bisquick baking mix
• 2 eggs beaten
• 2 Tbsp butter or margarine melted
• 2-1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp vanilla

Spray your crockpot with non-stick cooking spray. Mix all ingredients and pour them into your slowcooker. Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Susanne Myers – The Hillbilly Housewife

Visit me at at HillbillyHousewife.com for plenty of crockpot recipes.

P.S. If you’re interested in crock pot cooking, grab a copy of my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple Ebook.

P.P.S What are your favorite ways to use the crockpot around the holidays?

Set your menu (all foods, drinks and ingredients) and stick to it. If tradition dictates that guests bring a dish, be ready to give choices of extras you would like.

Do not be afraid to purchase ready made (or ready to bake) specialty breads, rolls or pies, cakes, desserts, hors d’oeuvres, snacks, gravies, dips, dressings and stuffing. Just be certain to order a week or two in advance and arrange set pick-up times.

Prepare a help list per family member so everyone has a written to do list, and you can recheck a master list.

Build your dinner around the following suggestions:

• One or two types of home cooked roast
• Stuffing and gravy
• Three hot vegetables (one of which is mashed potatoes)
• Breads and/or rolls
• Butter, appropriate condiments, sauces, sugar, salt and pepper
• One type of salad, two choices of bottled dressings
• Two different kinds of pies, or cakes
• Vegetable, cheese and/or hors d’oeuvres tray, dip, mustard
• Bagged snacks, nuts and dip
• Coffee, soft drinks, hard drinks (or make a punch), ice
• Wish list choices for guests to choose to bring

Now, spend your extra time with family and guests at your dinner and relax.